The DAP has threatened legal action against Penang state development officer Nik Ali Mat Yunus for his public criticism of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

"This is not an idle threat, let me assure him," DAP chairperson Karpal Singh said in a statement today.

NONE "Federal officers seconded to state governments under Pakatan Rakyat's rule should not take the opportunity to subvert and sabotage the smooth running of these governments," he added.

According to Karpal ( left ), Nik Ali had overstepped his boundaries as a civil servant by issuing press statements, which included the use of "uncouth" language, and more so by using an Umno platform to do so.

"The use of the words like biadap (disrespectful) and dayus (coward) against Lim by Nik Ali clearly shows that he is not fit to be the state development officer in Penang.

"He has forfeited his right to further retain this office. The cabinet should direct Nik Ali to withdraw the uncouth language he used against Lim and apologise to the chief minister," he said.

Nik Ali broke rules

Karpal said Nik Ali had violated Regulation 19 of the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993 in issuing press statements.

"I must make it clear that DAP will not hesitate to take Nik Ali to court for judicial pronouncement on his conduct," he added.

He was commenting on the war of words between Lim and Nik Ali, prompted by the federal government's hand in the controversy over illegal sand mining in Balik Pulau, demolition of decorative arches at the Penang Botanical Gardens and the allegation that no seat was provided for the chief minister during the launch of the Penang Hill Railway.

Karpal said that if the allegations about snubbing Lim at the railway launch were true, then Nik Ali had "obviously and maliciously" tried to humiliate Lim.

"I wonder how he rose up the ranks to become a state development officer. A civil servant publicly flexing his muscles at a chief minister, coupled with the use of uncouth language, has been unheard of until the emergence of Nik Ali."

PM should step in

Also in Karpal's firing line is chief secretary to the government Mohd Sidek Hassan, for defending Nik Ali and criticising Lim for being " excessive ".

He said that Sidek should be schooled on Regulation 19 and bring it to the attention of the cabinet.

Karpal also took the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) to task for failing to reprimand Nik Ali.

"He is a civil servant and should know the parameters within which he can operate. He should not allow himself to be used by politicians in Umno who have their own agenda against the chief minister.

"The prime minister should immediately intercede before Nik Ali goes rabid," he added.